Commodianus

Commodianus a Christian historian, supposed to have been born in Africa in the second half of the 3d century, and to have been converted from heathenism. He wrote; in a sort of acrostic verse, LXXX instructiones adv. gentium deos, which ridicules heathenism and exhorts the Christians to lead a pure life. It also contains Chiliastic notions, and gives out the idea that Nero was the Antichrist. It is one of the oldest monuments of Christian history. It was published by Rigalt (1650); by Priorius, together with the works of Cyprian (Paris, 1666); by Schurzfleisch (Wittenb. 1704, 4to); and by Davisius (Cambridge, 1711). See Clarke, Succession of Sac. Lit. 1:171; Wetzer u. Welte, Kirch-Lex. 2:715.